Small wheel groups / knowledge centres

[Carlton green]

I’ve a long term interest in getting a small (20”) wheel folding bike and, from what I’ve already read on this forum, have learnt a bit about them - RJB’s posts here have been particularly helpful. My use of a small wheel folder would be utilitarian; short trips from home (say to places up to an hour’s ride away); something to take in my car’s boot; and something to use on public transport.

Like much else having a bit more knowledge helps one avoid some hazards so I’m wondering if there are other places of on-line expertise to visit? Does anyone have any suggestions of places to learn more about small wheel bikes (with folding variants) from enthusiastic users of popular models?

[rareposter]

Much as it can be be a cesspit of advertising and scammers, Facebook is the best option - there are groups for pretty much everything you can think of on there.
Brompton owner's group
Tern Folding Bikes group

Etc etc.

Plus of course this forum although threads can sometimes sit there for days on end without a response.

Ultimately though, as with most bike buying, it's going to be a case of deciding your budget and your requirements and narrowing it down via various online searches then when you find something that looks appropriate, search for recent reviews from reliable sources.

[pjclinch]

There's the Moulton Bicycle Club that has a mailing list and you don't have to be in the club to join the list.

Of course, Moultons are not folders but many models are separable (i.e., a couple of minutes with tools rather than tens of seconds without tools), but that actually can make them easier to stow if you have two separate crannies.

For the most part I think the most useful questions can only really be answered by a test ride: does it feel okay? As long as it does then to quite some degree a bike is a bike is a bike, at least if you're using it mainly for short utilitarian hops.

Pete.

[pete75]

The Folding Society website doesn't appear to have been updated for a while, but there's lots of useful information there including reviews of bikes by owners. http://www.foldsoc.co.uk/

[al_yrpal]

Long ago I purchased a cheap folder just to see what it was like. It was a bit heavy so I sold it and purchased a Brompton. Great bike, my intention was to bus travel and explore new areas but I never really did it. I took it on holiday to France which was fun and holidayed with it in the UK too. Eventually I sold it because I wasnt getting much use out of it preferring to ride my tourer or MTB.

Al

[grufty]

I think the Folding Society may have morphed into AtoB.
Brompton, bus pass and railcard. A game changing combination!

[Carlton green]

My thanks to everybody who has, so far, replied to the thread. I hope for more responses later.

For the most part I think the most useful questions can only really be answered by a test ride: does it feel okay? As long as it does then to quite some degree a bike is a bike is a bike, at least if you're using it mainly for short utilitarian hops.

I’ll likely be buying ‘blind’ off of a well known auction site. However I won’t spend much and will see how things pan out, at the moment I’ve plans for use of a folder and my free bus pass arrived a few days ago. Yep, a bike’s a bike thought some ride a bit better than others. Maybe it’s a case of ya’ pays ya’ money and takes ya’ choice … and hopes for the best. Hauling my bike over a stile today did make me wonder how much easier (less bulky) it would have been with a fat tyred folder, and getting a full sized bike through a kissing gate is next to impossible.

Facebook has groups for lots of things, but I avoid the place. When something is to good to be true it’s because….

[Barrowman]

Carlton

The Veteran Cycle Club has an 'Origami' Section who might be an information source .

[Carlton green]

Carlton

The Veteran Cycle Club has an 'Origami' Section who might be an information source .

Thanks. Unfortunately the site appears pretty much members viewing only and membership is £32 per annum .

[PH]

Is you local bus company likely to be friendly towards a 20" folder? I had a Dahon Speed 7, which was a lumpy package I doubt I could have taken on the local urban bus services, there might have been more chance on some rural services, though I never tried. It was cheap and fine for pootling about on for shortish rides as long as I didn't push it, it never felt the most stable of bikes, fine on the flat at 12 - 15 mph, but I didn't feel confident letting it accelerate downhill. I'm not a huge fan of the Brompton ride either (Mine is for sale) but at least you can take that anywhere. If the bus service is happy with 20", then maybe you'd get away with 24", IMO that's the size where, while riding, you can largely ignore that it's a folder.

[Winders]

www.bikeforums.net has a pretty active folding bike subforum with international coverage, and is less North American than other parts of that site. It can get a bit ‘lively’ at times but nothing out of the ordinary. It errs away from wall to wall Bromptons compared to other parts of the folding bike online universe.

SE Asia has a particularly strong folding bike culture, and a good English language blog on this is www.handsonbike.blogspot.com from Singapore, where there’s quite a few 20” wheeled projects posted by the author.

[rjb]

Never had a problem taking my folding twenty or kingpin on a bus. Only issue is if a wheelchair user takes up the whole space but often the space can accommodate both. I've even had a full size bike carried outside of peak times.

[PH]

Never had a problem taking my folding twenty or kingpin on a bus.

How rural/urban are these services?

[Carlton green]

Never had a problem taking my folding twenty or kingpin on a bus.

How rural/urban are these services?

RJB lives near Taunton, First Bus are his local provider.

Folding Bicycles

Folding bicycles are welcome on board our buses, however we do ask that you fold them and place them in an appropriate space. For everyone’s comfort and safely, we ask you to make sure they’re not blocking the aisles or access to any seats.

However there are instances when it may not be possible to accept folding bikes,

https://www.firstbus.co.uk/bus-accessibility

I think that Arriva run in the (your) Derby area, carriage should still be possible but they’re not quite as generous:

Unfortunately, we cannot carry unfolded bicycles onboard. Folded bicycles are allowed onboard but should ideally be carried in a suitable carrying bag or holdall to reduce the risk of injury or damage to other passengers and their property.

https://help.arrivabus.co.uk/faqs/north ... 20property.

Is you local bus company likely to be friendly towards a 20" folder? I had a Dahon Speed 7, which was a lumpy package I doubt I could have taken on the local urban bus services, there might have been more chance on some rural services, though I never tried. It was cheap and fine for pootling about on for shortish rides as long as I didn't push it, it never felt the most stable of bikes, fine on the flat at 12 - 15 mph, but I didn't feel confident letting it accelerate downhill. I'm not a huge fan of the Brompton ride either (Mine is for sale) but at least you can take that anywhere. If the bus service is happy with 20", then maybe you'd get away with 24", IMO that's the size where, while riding, you can largely ignore that it's a folder.

Having checked I think that my local operator would be OK with a folder, but it was a good idea to check.

I’m not a fast rider so can accommodate slower top speeds from a bike, I don’t need the best but would like something affordable that’s reasonably good to ride. Wheel sizes above 20” would be a bit too bulky for my intended use so I’ll stick to that 20” limit; the popular 20 x 1.75” (47 - 406) size will likely match my needs - seems like it’s long established and suits a lot of people - but we’ll have to see what turns up.

Bromptons are commonly well regarded but they’re outside of my budget, that aside I’d be reluctant to take an expensive bike with 16” wheels down rough tracks … and it’s probably not a good idea to leave a Brompton unattended in any public space.

[Biospace]

I’ll likely be buying ‘blind’ off of a well known auction site. However I won’t spend much and will see how things pan out, at the moment I’ve plans for use of a folder and my free bus pass arrived a few days ago. Yep, a bike’s a bike thought some ride a bit better than others. Maybe it’s a case of ya’ pays ya’ money and takes ya’ choice … and hopes for the best. Hauling my bike over a stile today did make me wonder how much easier (less bulky) it would have been with a fat tyred folder, and getting a full sized bike through a kissing gate is next to impossible.

Facebook has groups for lots of things, but I avoid the place. When something is to good to be true it’s because….

There's a reddit page for the Raleighs and of course Sheldon has a page, there's a lot of useful information to be found in the comments under YouTube videos, of which there are many. There are some in this place as well as on retrobike.co.uk.

My experience with most other small wheelers is that more often than not they're not a good ride - more a 'transport solution' designed to take a rider a short distance, with the obvious exceptions we all know of. For me the Raleighs stand head and shoulders above all else, when all factors are taken into consideration.

Depending on the stile/gate/obstacle a folding bike may be easier to lift over, but not necessarily. I find my 90s Marin BVSE much easier to lift up and over most gates or stiles than the Stowaway, for example, there's often further to reach with a more compact object when lifting it up and over something.